Baxter

Films where animals are given a persona and a human voice have long been a staple of children's entertainment, but I can't think of a single film made for adults where this is the case. With the exception of oddball French flick 'Baxter', of course! Any film with a premise as weird as this one is bound to become a must see for yours truly, but this is an idea which, when fused with black comedy, certainly has the potential to be great, and Jérôme Boivin's film comes close to fulfilling that promise. The film has a couple of points to make, and tries to fuse them with the perspective of a dog. The film follows Baxter - a bull terrier given to an old lady by her daughter. Baxter isn't fond of his owner, but she keeps him because she's lonely. However, it's not long before Baxter decides he's had enough and the old woman meets an untimely end. Baxter then moves on to the young couple across the street, where's he's happy for a while again, right up until their baby is born and he gets his nose pushed out. Baxter is searching for a human like him; and unfortunately, he soon finds one.

The film shows that no matter how evil a mind an animal has, there's always a human with a worse one. Baxter succeeds in showing life from the point of view of a supposedly obedient animal, and the most powerful things in this respect are the things that show the dog at it's most instinctive - things like mating with another dog and bending to his masters' will. The dog in this film may be a comical impression of the real life 'mans best friend', but somehow it doesn't feel so unbelievable that you can't buy into the film. The main reason why this film is so eerie owes to the voice artist behind the dog. Maxime Leroux's voice gives Baxter a distinctive air of evil and authority, which suits the dog well. The things that the dog says are always interesting and often insightful, which helps the film to create an absurd atmosphere as dogs aren't usually associated with intellectual intelligence. The conclusion to the film is undoubtedly shocking and completely surprising, and works really well. Overall, Baxter is too weird a film to ignore and for that reason if nothing else, it gets my full recommendation.

Baxter is a French movie inspired by Ken Greenhall's Hell Hound novel. Set in Belgian suburbs, it revolves around the relation between a dog called Baxter and his owners – those he calls "the humans". Indeed, this is a dog that thinks and speaks aloud! But, far from being a Scooby Doo or a Beethoven, Baxter's behavior is far more realistic, and beastly. As we soon discover, Baxter is a creature with a strong character and distinct tastes, which will lead the story in unexpected directions.

The narration is structured in an initial prologue followed by three segments, one for each of Baxter's owners. The movie is occasionally humorous, but overall very dark and serious. It explores the beastly spirit found in animals as well as in humans, and the joys and sorrows of a discipline of obedience. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

First of all, let me say this is one of the most original films I have ever seen. The camera work and techniques are very nice. Also, the story of a dog's life and the thoughts that run through his mind about his masters is amazing.

It moves slowly at times but once Baxter (the dog) meets up with his dream master, the pace really picks up.

This movie is a must see for some of the amusing things Baxter thinks about and for the ending that leaves you somewhat sad, but very satisfied and/or disturbed.

I stumbled on this film at the video store quite by accident: I have long had a weakness for bull terrier dogs, whose other-worldly appearance makes them perfect for off-center stories (see Tim Burton's early film "Frankenweenie," books "The Land of Laughs" and "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi"), and I understand the director's choice of the breed to embody his bleak vision in this remarkable film. The video package copy used the word "disturbing" three times, and the film IS disturbing, but also distinctive and beautifully realized. NOT for kids or casual movie rentals (not a "date" movie). And: make sure it's subtitled, not dubbed.

The story here has been done several times before and since this one was made, although arguably not in such a bizarre and intriguing way. The story concerns a bull terrier, Baxter, and his adventures with several different owners: an old lady, a young couple, and a disturbed nazi-obsessed boy. The dog offers commentary on the humans, and life for him in general, and is often thoughtful and at times quite humorous. Probably one of the best films of its type, but one that no one has seen...probably due to its somewhat disturbing subject matter, and the fact that it is a foreign film with subtitled French, however, I would strongly recommend this film as it is quite a viewing experience with several memorable moments and sequences.